Toy building kit



Jan. 11, 1966 A. RUNSER 3,228,137

TOY BUILDING KIT Filed April 12, 1963 2 Sheets$heet 1 A ugust Funser ATTORNEY 6 Jan. 11, 1966 A. RuNsER TOY BUILDING KIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1963 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,228,137 TOY BUILDING KIT August Runser, Lothringerstrasse 115, Basel, Switzerland Filed Apr. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 272,806 1 Claim. (Cl. 46-29) Toy building kits known so far are, on the basis of the form of their elements, unsuitable for the erection of frame structures such as roof woodworks, tower, airplane and scaffold constructions of all kinds. Such disadvantage shall be eliminated according to the present invention by a special formation of the structural elements.

Subject matter of my present invention is a toy structural or building kit that is distinguished by the provision of a main element in the form of a connector which at least on one end face comprises intercrossing slots adapted to receive secondary elements pluggable from four sides, said secondary elements forming a group of holding studs which on insertion of the elements into said slots permit a lateral yielding action and thereby ensure a good mounting through resilient clamping action.

One form of the invention is shown by way of example in the drawing, in which:

FIGS. l3 show three different connectors,

FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate flats of different lengths,

FIG. 8 depicts a connecting element which may be provided in various lengths,

FIG. 9 shows an accessory element serving as shaft and the like, also in different lengths,

FIG. it) depicts an element serving as roller, disc, wheel and the like, of which a plurality is provided, and

FIGS. 1 l lo 14 illustrate different examples of application.

The kit shown comprises a plurality of plastic structural elements, in particular three different kinds of connectors l, 2 and 3 of square or rectangular cross-section and combinable with lath-like elements or flats 9 of different lengths 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d to continuous frame or skeleton structures The three connectors have smooth uniplanar lateral faces and are uniformly rectangular in transverse cross-section between their ends. The connectors l, 2, 3 on their end-faces 4, are provided with slots 6, 7, 8 of equal widths to receive the flats 9 and all of the llals are uniformly rectangular in cross-section. Of the three different connectors, connector 1 on its endfaces 4 which extend at right angles to the longitudinal edges is provided with two intercrossing slots 6, 7 each. The latter form four spaced holding studs 1', 3' that on insertion of the elements 9 permit of a certain lateral yielding and thereby, through resilient clamping pressure, ensure a good adhesion and hold. The clear width of the slots 6, 7, is calculated to afford said adhesion and hold, i.e. to permit to insert the flats 9 in a press fit, whereby the studs 1, 3' formed by the slots will spring slightly apart on insertion of the flats and afford a good hold of the elements in their mutual engagement, in particular when the elements are made of a thermoplastic stretchable material such as crystalloplast-like polyethylene, polyamides and the like, and not of glasshard plastics.

Connector 2, in contradistinction to connector 1, comprises end-faces 5 facing the same side and extending obliquely, preferably under an angle of 45 with respect to two opposite sidefaces. On each end-face is provided only one slot that is at right angles thereto. In this element also, the legs formed by slots 8 are distinguished by a certain resiliency which ensures a hold in the slots of the connectors 2 on insertion of the flats 9. Connector 3 represents an element combined from the elements 1 and 2, one end thereof being formed the same as the ends of element 1, and its other end being formed the same as the ends of element 2, corresponding references being used for element 3 as for the elements 1 and 2, for both ends.

For the purpose of forming cowling or like panels, which have to be applied to certain constructions, thin plates 10 (FIG. 8) are used. In many cases, also the flats 9 may be used for therefor.

When making up airplanes, automobiles, carriages, railroad cars and the like, shafts 11 (FIG. 9) are required which may be mounted in bores 11:: of the flats 9, as well as wheels or rollers 12 (FIG. 10) which are pluggable on the shaft-ends.

The example shown in FIG. 12 illustrates the roof woodwork of a house, the rafters being composed of the elements 2 and 9d and the roof partly being covered by the plates 10. The detail of FIG. 11 that is drawn to a larger scale clearly shows the manner in which the flats 9c are combinable with the aid of the connectors 1 and 2, by plugging the flats into the slots 6, 7 and 8 of the connectors 1 and 2 respectively. In the vertical posts, the ends of the flats 9b, 9c are engaged in the slots 6, 7 and 8 of the connectors 1, 2 (FIG. 12) so that the longitudinal axis of the elements 90, 1, 1, 9b, 1, 3 are alined. The connectors 2 are used not only for forming the ridge parts of the roof rafters but also for stiffening the corners of the connections between posts and beams, by engaging the flats 9c at an angle of 45 The roof-skin elements 10 are prevented from sliding off the roof rafters by connectors 3 secured to the lower end thereof.

The example of FIG. 13 shows a portion of a tower including a viewing platform, in which are set up four posts made up of flats 9d and connectors 1, 3. Erection of the platform is rendered possible by interposing two connectors 1, 3 for each post, the elements 91'], 9c, 91)

' being plugged crosswise as beams into the slots between two connectors 1, 3 to interconnect the four posts and to form the platform together with the frame constituted by elements 9d. On the platform is erected a parapet or breast-wall which comprises a frame formed of four elements 9d and connected to the platform peripheral elements 9d by means of connectors 1. The crosswise disposed beams formed of elements 9b, 90, 9b are connected to the elements 9d of the posts 9d, 1, 3, M by means of the connectors 2 that act as knee braces. The tower may comprise a plurality of vertically spaced platforms.

The lengths of the flats 9a to 9d are chosen so that two elements 9a and an element 9b together make up the length of one element 90, and so that two elements 9b and an element together make up the length of the element 9d.

By means of the elements described, pieces of furniture such as tables, benches, chairs and the like may be readily put together. FIG. 14 shows a chair for example.

The structural elements preferably are made of plastic and are especially suited for the erection of frame constructions of all kinds such as roofs, towers, bridges and building cranes.

As in the case of known structural toy kits here also different accessories may be provided, such as flat or plate-like cladding elements as well as wheels and shafts, certain structural elements being provided with bores to receive said shafts.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a now preferred example and embodiment of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A toy building kit comprising at least three plastic connector elements of different lengths, the lateral faces of said elements being smooth and uniplanar, said elements being uniformly rectangular in transverse cross-section between their ends, the first connector element being the one of intermeiate length and having crossed slots extending transversely thereof at both ends providing corner studs, the second connector element being of greatest length and beveled at opposite ends and bifurcated at said ends to form side legs separated by slots, the third connector element being of lesser length than the adjacent connector element with one end having crossed slots providing corner studs and the other end being beveled and having a slot providing side legs, all of said slots having equal Widths and a series of lath-like flats uniformly rectangular in cross section and of greater Width than all of said slots adapted to be resiliently held in said slots and between the legs of the three connector elements in the building of diflerent articles.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,174,558 3/1916 Friedel 4627 1,281,856 10/1918 Shaw 4629 1,608,009 11/1926 Strub 4629 2,844,910 7/1958 Korchak 4630 X 2,919,515 1/1960 Connell 4617 2,951,311 9/1960 Luther 46--19 FOREIGN PATENTS 907,169 6/1945 France.

171,506 11/1921 Great Britain.

281,776 7/1952 Switzerland.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

